Outcome of Statutory Consultation - January 2018
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Outcome of statutory consultation - January 2018 Proposal to change the catchment areas of both Duncanrig Secondary School and Calderglen High School to more effectively balance pupil numbers between the two secondary schools, and either . Option One Associate the new, non-denominational primary school planned for the Jackton / East Kilbride Community Growth Area (CGA) to Calderglen High School; or . Option Two Change the association of Greenhills Primary School from Duncanrig Secondary School which would mean pupils transfer to Calderglen High School as the local secondary school. This report has been issued by South Lanarkshire Council in response to the consultation undertaken in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. This report includes recommendations of the outcome of the consultation which will be presented to the Executive Committee of South Lanarkshire Council. Contents 1. Purpose of the report 2. Recommendations 3. Background 4. Distribution of proposal document and summary of responses 5. Pupil comments 6. Summary of issues raised by Education Scotland (formerly HMIe) and Education Resources response 7. Review of proposals by South Lanarkshire Council 8. Resource, risk and policy implications Appendices 1. Distribution of consultation proposals document 2. Oral questions and responses at public meeting 3. Report by Education Scotland If you need this information in another language or format, please contact us to discuss how we can best meet your needs. Phone 0303 123 1015 Email: [email protected] 1. Purpose of the report 1.1 The purpose of this report is to advise all stakeholders on the outcome of the statutory consultation exercise undertaken in respect of the proposal to change the catchment areas of both Duncanrig Secondary School and Calderglen High School and either 1. associate the new, non-denominational primary school planned for the Jackton / East Kilbride Community Growth Area (CGA) to Calderglen High School; or 2. change the association of Greenhills Primary School from Duncanrig Secondary School which would mean pupils transfer to Calderglen High School as the local secondary school. 1.2 This includes a report from Education Scotland on the educational aspects of the proposal and Education Resources’ responses to all questions and issues raised during the consultation period. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is intended that the consultation report, along with any relevant documentation, will be considered by the Executive Committee of South Lanarkshire Council on 28 February 2018. 2.2 The Executive Committee will be invited to: . note the contents of the report and the views expressed by stakeholders; . agree the proposal to change the catchment areas of both Duncanrig Secondary School and Calderglen High School and associate the new, non-denominational primary school planned for the Jackton / East Kilbride Community Growth Area (CGA) to Calderglen High School. 3. Background 3.1 A consultation proposal document was issued as a result of a decision by the Executive Committee of South Lanarkshire Council on 27 September 2017 to consult on the proposal below: To change the catchment areas of both Duncanrig Secondary School and Calderglen High School and either 1. associate the new, non-denominational primary school planned for the Jackton / East Kilbride Community Growth Area (CGA) to Calderglen High School; or 2. change the association of Greenhills Primary School from Duncanrig Secondary School which would mean pupils transfer to Calderglen High School as the local secondary school. 3.2 The statutory consultation, in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 was carried out over the period 9 October to 1 December 2017 which included a public meeting held on 7 November 2017 in Greenhills Hall. 3.3 A consultation notice was published in the East Kilbride News on 4 October 2017. The notice included a summary of the proposal, information on availability of the proposal document, how written representations could be made and also details of the public meeting. A previous press article also appeared in the East Kilbride News on 28 June 2017. 3.4 Notification of the proposal was issued on 6 October 2017 to the consultees listed in Appendix 1. The full consultation proposal document was published on the Council website on 9 October 2017 and a copy made available from all libraries, Q and As and affected schools. 3.5 A public meeting was held on 7 November 2017 in Greenhills Hall. A summary of the oral representations made at this meeting is included as Appendix 2 in this report. 3.6 South Lanarkshire Council sent a copy of the proposal document to Education Scotland (Her Majesty’s Inspectors) on 6 October 2017 in its role as a statutory consultee. In addition, on 4 December 2017, Education Scotland was provided with a summary of all relevant written responses and oral representations made during the consultation period. Education Scotland then carried out its own review by visiting the affected schools and to hear and listen to the views of a variety of stakeholders. 3.7 South Lanarkshire Council received a copy of Education Scotland’s report on 18 December 2017. A summary of this report and Education Resources’ response to the key points is included in Section 6 of this consultation report and a copy of the whole document is included as Appendix 3. 4. Distribution of proposal document and summary of responses 4.1 Communication was issued to all key stakeholders at the affected schools informing them of this consultation. The pupil rolls of the directly affected schools are as follows: . Greenhills Primary School 367 nursery children and pupils . Calderglen High School 1,358 pupils . Duncanrig Secondary School 1,582 pupils In addition, letters were issued to all parents of P6 and P7 children attending all non- denominational primary schools (pupils totalling 1,095) in East Kilbride signposting interested parties to this consultation and inviting them to the Public Meeting being held on Tuesday 7 November 2017. 4.2 The total number of responses that were received was 276. Table 1 Responses Number In favour of the proposal and Option 1 144 (associate new primary school in Jackton / CGA to Calderglen High (parents/others) School) 117 (staff) In favour of the proposal and Option 2 12 (associate Greenhills Primary School to Calderglen High School) Not in favour of the proposal and suggesting an alternate option 1 Undecided 2 TOTAL 276 4.3 A breakdown of those responses by consultee designation is shown overleaf. Table 2 Breakdown of responses Response Parent Parent of Parent of Parent of Parent of Local Staff Other to proposal Council of pupil at pupil at pupil at pupil at Resident affected Greenhills Calderglen Duncanrig another schools Primary High Secondary primary School School School school In favour of 2 3 82 0 17 30 117 10 proposal and Option 1 In favour of 0 1 1 4 4 1 1 0 proposal and Option 2 Not in favour 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 and suggesting alternative option Undecided 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 Total 2 4 84 4 22 31 119 10 4.4 Comments received from stakeholders are detailed overleaf. The written responses contained are relatively unedited, but information that would lead to the identification of individuals has been removed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. 4.5 The recurring themes raised within the comments were: . Concerns around the proposal to change the current catchment association of Greenhills Primary School with Duncanrig Secondary School which is seen as a strength; . travel distance, transport and safe routes to school; . staffing / resources. 4.6 Table 3 – Written feedback received and Council response Theme Designation Option Comments / Issues raised Council response selected Capacity in Parent Duncanrig No option Duncanrig Secondary School was built for 1600 pupils but We can confirm that the efficient operating capacity both selected already has nearly 1800. I believe that Calderglen High of both Duncanrig Secondary and Calderglen High schools School does not have many vacancies either. Schools is 1898. Current pupil rolls (as at Census 2017) are: . Duncanrig Secondary – 1562; and . Calderglen High – 1358. There will be many more new houses at Shields Road. Children from the Shields Road development would Children going to live there will need to go to school too. attend either Duncanrig Secondary School or St But where? Surely there was some thought given to this Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School for secondary before planning permissions was granted. education. Continuity Parent 1 I write to express my concern on the proposal to change Children with additional support needs will not be for ASN Calderglen High the Greenhills association to Calderglen from Duncanrig - affected by this proposal. Recommendations about pupils School from what I understand there are facilities within both secondary placement and consequent transition Greenhills and Duncanrig that benefit additional needs arrangements for secondary education will continue youngsters and a move to Calderglen would cause to be considered by the Additional Support Needs unnecessary stress and inconvenience to parents/carers, allocation group in partnership with parents. Any children and teaching staff. The move would threaten the siblings of pupils transitioning to Duncanrig ongoing care of these youngsters. Secondary School for ASN provision may follow My understanding is that Calderglen has capacity to take without the need for placing requests to keep on an additional primary school and, while not without its families together if parents wish. challenges, establishing links with a new school, would be preferable to severing links with one school and creating the need to establish links across more schools than absolutely necessary. Theme Designation Option Comments / Issues raised Council response selected Continuity Parent 1 Obviously a change in catchment is going to occur! Based It is recognised that Option 1 would represent less for primary Calderglen High on the options given, option #1 has the lowest impact on of a change - a brand new primary school with no pupils School teaching staff, school resources and parents.